Month: March 2015

You make beautiful things~ You make beautiful out of dust~You make beautiful out of us

You are making me new

Beautiful Things Gungor

LOGOS and LEGOS That’s how we started the new year in my house. We opened The Word (logos) and each child shared a verse. How beautiful is the sound of scripture from the mouths of preschooler through teen. Then, we played- with Legos.

Look! I am about to do a new thing! Now it sprouts! Do you not perceive it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.Isaiah 43:19 (LEB)

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

“Behold, I make all things new!” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:5

Therefore, if anyone is in Chirst he is a new creation; the old has gone the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17

Logos- After they each read the verses we asked each child to share the “new” in their verse. They replied with: creation, all things, compassion. As we discussed what these new things mean for us in our lives, we asked them to share something they wanted God to do in and through each of them this year. It’s a beautiful thing…. The thoughts toward God from the young- innocent, pure and unscathed by the world. Full of hope and expectation. Mom and dad shared, too, and we ended with each of us praying for the person on our right and their request for the “new” 2015. We prayed as a family that we would be open to whatever new he had planned for us.

Now for the Legos- To put more of God’s word to work in our lives we pulled out the Legos. The big container held the lost, mixed up and separated blocks which once were held in their own neatly contained box with clear creating directions, put together and then nicely displayed on their shelves. Right away everyone began digging into the now deconstructed and broken builds box and excitingly decided on what we wanted to create; something new that had not existed previously in our history of Lego creations. We worked as a team, each building a part of a bigger plan. The house, the playground, the furniture, the vehicles, the people. When we were finished, we sat back and looked at our designs. Each one joyfully explaining the uniqueness of their creation. This gave me a chance to ask this question- “Is it more fun to build the Lego set that comes with the step by step directions or is it more fun to take them apart, start from scratch, and use those pieces to create something different; something new?” There was pause. Then after a moments thought, that night’s unanimous answer was: it’s more fun to start from scratch and create something new- a new design, a new creation.

That’s like us and the way God works in our lives. Sometimes he lays out and let’s us know the plan for us to follow- his word gives us much direction. Other times he says come take up your cross and follow me; I’ll make you into a creation you won’t believe. I’ll create something you may not have thought of on your own. And there are times that requires the tearing apart of the old- old has gone so that the new can come. He breaks us down or allows the things of the world to break us down and take us apart so he can do the brand new. The breaking down is rarely fun, but the process of rebuilding and recreating can be exhilarating. Piece by piece, this new creation is being formed as God directs, and, bit by bit, the anticipation of the new builds inside you until finally- construction complete. Sit back- bask in what God has done! Yes, he could have showed you the end result picture before it all started and given you exact piece by piece instructions, but where would the thrill and anticipation have been in that?

Ok, so maybe you like the guide book directions with each step numbered… but try some new thinking… Think about opening yourself to let what’s old go if needed and be available to whatever the new he has for you even if it’s painful at first. Let him surprise you piece by piece until completion and then sit back and see the beautiful new he’s done in you.

Worship: Beautiful Things Gungor

Could all that is lost ever be found Could a garden come up from this ground at all

You make beautiful things You make beautiful things out of the dust You make beautiful things You make beautiful things out of us

You make me new, You are making me new You make me new, You are making me new

new creation

new compassions

new plans

Being confident of this, that he who began a good (new) work in you will be faithful to complete it. Phillipians 1:6

Blessings,

Kalyn

Coming soon-Watch for-Part 3 “When the New is Hard” written by Elaine Mahaffey

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Look! I am about to do a new thing! Now it sprouts! Do you not perceive it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.Isaiah 43:19 (LEB)

New things!

new opportunity, new job, new friend, new town, new faith, new peace, new love, new adventure, new mission

The Israelites needed a new thing in their current situation, alright! When Isaiah speaks these words of hope they are in a desperate season in their history. They are captives, who had lost all they thought they would keep forever and were longing for the blessings God had promised. And God was offering them a fresh start. Promising them a new thing. How about you? Are you open to a new journey with God? A fresh start?

new
1. not existing before; made, introduced, or discovered recently or now for the first time.

2. already existing but seen, experienced, or acquired recently or now for the first time.

New mercies every morning

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Lamentations 3:22-23

Whew…. Can you perceive those new mercies waiting for you to unwrap each day?

New creation

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has gone the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17

Are you or do you want to be a “new creation”? Do you want to be far different from what you were before? Would you like some qualities in your life that were previously non-existent?

God’s word tell us 3 gems about the “new” in these verse:

1. Your God does new things

2. God gives us new compassion for each day

3. God makes us into a new creation when we invite him into our lives.

Good bye old- hello new!!!

He who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:5

Listen to the words from the one who sits on the throne. Saying… I bring all things into a new and better condition. Even when the new is unknown and difficult. Sometimes we get so stuck in our current condition that we fail to realize that it’s not the “better condition” that God has planned for us. Sometimes we are so content with our life that we can’t imagine being in a new and better place. But, look around… each day the King of all Kings invites us to feast upon his new compassions. Not yesterday’s leftovers. The invitation is there…. “because of his great love for us” that NEVER ends. (Lamentations 3:22)

These beautiful verses from the Holy Bible show us new things God will do in this new year. It is the beginning of March and the newness spring brings is just around the corner. Soon, we will look out our windows and see fresh life budding all around us. If God’s word is true, which it is, then we can be sure that new things are in store for us this year. Can you see them? Do you perceive it? (Isaiah 43:19)

Feel like you are wondering in the wilderness? Or are you excited about a new adventure? God tells us that he makes a way. He’s the God of new things. Your God makes things exist that did not exist before. Your God creates things that have not yet been discovered. Your God takes a human and makes a completely new creation. Something has to die so that you can acquire a beauty you had never know before. Pride dies for humility, hate dies for love, cruelty dies for mercy, agitation dies for patience, fighting dies for peace, sorrow dies for joy, fear dies for courage and on and on his power goes.

The old has gone…

New has come…

Humility Love Mercy Patience Peace Joy Courage Hope Freedom

Open your eyes- see, notice Him

See the new he wants to do in and through you this year.

He who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:5

His words are “trustworthy and true”. So, get into his word and discover all the new he has for you.

Seeking and finding,

Kalyn

The new- Part 2 coming soon.

Reflect:

Try the S.O.A.P. method with the scripture listed in the reading.

S for Scripture
Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. Highlight, underline or place a mark in the margin of your bible next to the scriptures that stand out. When you are done, reread the verses you marked, look for one that particularly spoke to you that day, and write it in your journal.

O for Observation
What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you. Paraphrase and write this scripture down in your own words in your journal.

A for Application
Personalize what you have read by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now. Perhaps it is instruction, encouragement, revelation of a new promise or corrections for a particular area of your life. Write how this scripture can apply to you today.

P for Prayer
This can be as simple as asking God to help you use this scripture, or it may be a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you. Remember, prayer is a two-way conversation, so be sure to listen to what God has to say! Then, write it down.

Women’s ministry fellowship idea:

Invite the ladies in your fellowship to a New Things party.

Ideas:

Ask them to bring something new to them that they treasure and be ready to share with the group about the item.

Ask them to wear something new (within the last year) earrings, shirt, socks, shoes, lipgloss. See if the group can guess what’s new on you.

Make a new recipe to share with the group and bring copies of the recipe for others to keep.

Learn a new word and its definition the week before the gathering, then share it with the group.

Learn a new bible verse and write it on index cards to let those who the verse ministered to take the card home.

Share the scriptures listed above and ask the ladies to tell what they heard to be new in each verse.

new

n(y)o͞o/
adjective
1. not existing before; made, introduced, or discovered recently or now for the first time.

2. already existing but seen, experienced, or acquired recently or now for the first time.